1*Research Scholar and corresponding author, Department of Pharmacy, Oriental University, Indore, MP, India. Email: anubhojwani@gmail.com
2Supervisor, Department of Pharmacy, Oriental University, Indore, MP, India.
Received: 16th Dec, 2025; Revised: 8th Feb 2026; Accepted: 12th Feb, 2026; Available Online: 28th Feb, 2026
Background: Oxidative stress is a key driver in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to steatohepatitis and fibrosis. Multi-herb (polyherbal) formulations and herbomineral preparations (herbal mixtures combined with minerals) are traditional therapeutic strategies to combat chronic liver diseases, potentially targeting multiple pathological factors. In this study, a polyherbal formulation (PHF) composed of five antioxidant-rich medicinal plant extracts, and a corresponding herbomineral formulation (HMF) (the same five herbs fortified with Yashada Bhasma – calcined zinc ash) were evaluated for their antioxidant potential in the context of NAFLD.
Methods: Antioxidant capacity was assessed in vitro through free radical scavenging assays (DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide) and by measuring activities of key antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), etc.] and levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants [reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamins C and E] in the formulations. In vivo antioxidant effects were tested using a high-fat diet (HFD) induced NAFLD mouse model. Mice were treated with PHF or HMF (250 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg daily, orally) for 4 weeks, and hepatic antioxidant parameters (SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) were measured in liver tissue.
Results: Both PHF and HMF demonstrated strong antioxidant activity. In free radical assays, HMF showed greater DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging (IC₅₀ ≈ 50 µg/mL for DPPH) compared to PHF (IC₅₀ ≈ 63 µg/mL) and even to ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ ≈ 66 µg/mL). Enzymatic assays showed significantly higher activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, and glutathione-S-transferase in HMF than PHF (p<0.05 for all). HMF also markedly increased GSH levels (~8-fold higher than PHF) and vitamin E content relative to PHF. In HFD-fed NAFLD mice, both PHF and HMF restored hepatic antioxidant enzymes and GSH levels toward normal, while reducing MDA (lipid peroxidation marker) by ~30% versus untreated NAFLD controls. Notably, HMF produced greater improvements than PHF in nearly all parameters (e.g., hepatic SOD, CAT, and GPx were ~10–30% higher with HMF than PHF at the same dose, and MDA reduction was greater with HMF).
Conclusion: The polyherbal and herbomineral formulations exhibit potent antioxidant effects in vitro and in vivo. The inclusion of Yashada Bhasma (zinc) in the herbomineral formulation significantly enhanced its antioxidant efficacy, likely by augmenting both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses. These results suggest that multi-component herbal formulations, especially when fortified with trace minerals such as zinc, can effectively counteract oxidative stress in NAFLD. This antioxidant strategy may help prevent progression of NAFLD and merits further investigation.
Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Oxidative stress; Antioxidant enzymes; Polyherbal formulation; Herbomineral formulation; Yashada Bhasma; Pterocarpus marsupium; Curcuma longa.
How to cite this article: Bhojwani AP, Shukla T. Antioxidant Evaluation of a Polyherbal and Herbomineral Formulation for NAFLD. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(3): 387-392. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.3.44
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None